Mya Matos 10/22/17 Mya Matos 10/22/17

Wedding Gift Guide

Wedding gift-giving guidelines. What is the best wedding gift? Learn about when to give a wedding gift and how.

How to give the perfect wedding gift

So many questions arise when it comes to giving the perfect gift for our favorite wedding couples. It can be so difficult to navigate all the rules (and it seems they change all the time)! Here are a few staple guidelines to abide by when giving wedding gifts.

To wrap or not to wrap gifts?

The truth is you should Never, EVER EVER bring a wrapped gift to the wedding. Please refrain from doing this. Although it is a meaningful gesture, it is can actually be pretty rude to bring a wrapped wedding gift. Think about how the "just married" blissful couple will ever figure out how to get your huge wrapped Lobster Pot home or back to the hotel.. eek! I promise you it's the last thing they or anyone in their wedding party wants to think about at 12am. To avoid creating an uncomfortable situation, always ship wrapped gifts before the wedding to the couple's home address or up to a year after the wedding. Don't forget to include a meaningful card :)

Purchasing Gifts not on listed the Wedding Registry

Don't go Rouge! Try to buy a gift off their registry. They spent a lot of time putting together this curated list of special items they need to start their lives together. Please don't buy something off their list you "think" they will love. They really want the items they picked out in their style and taste.

Think Outside the Box

Most modern couples are not only registering for household items but also on websites like zola.com where they can register for furniture, electronics, experiences, weekend getaways and cash funds all in one easy location. Their tagline is "Ask for Everything!" Really truly anything they really want. I love this concept as it gives the buyer so many great options.

How much to spend on wedding gifts?

How much are you really supposed to spend on the shower and wedding gifts". We all know the age-old rule of giving the couple the price of their reception meal - however, it is just that, an old saying. There really is no true rule here. Just give what you can afford, think about your own relationship with the couple and let that be your guide. One great rule of thumb is purchasing gifts based on 20/20/60. If you are invited to 2 showers and the wedding, spend 20% on the shower gift, 20% on the second shower or party and 60% on the wedding gift. Set your budget ahead of time so you are fully prepared. And YES, if you get invited, you should send a gift. Doesn't have to be a big something, but needs to be something.